
THE 



CHARTER AND BY-LAW'S 



OF THE 



Wc\v iporfe Ibistcrical Society. 




JOctu Jlovb 
PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY 



THE 



OH A RTE R AND BY-LAWS 



Dl IHl 



iRcw )i?orl; Historical Society 




S-1c\n Pork 
PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY 



fn6 
I96Z 



REVISED MAY 1895 



AMENDED MARCH, 1900, AND 
NOVEMBER, 1902 



Officers of the Society, 190^. 



PRESIDENT, 

S A M U E L Y E RPLANCK HO F F M A X . 

FIRS r \ H l PRESIDEN I'. 

FRED E R T C W ENDELL I VCKS N . 

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT, 

FRANCIS ROBERT SCHELL. 

FOREIGN CORRESPONDING SECRETARY, 

ARCH E R MIL T ON 1 1 I ; N T ING T ON. 

DOMESTIC CORRESPONDING SECRETARY, 

GEORGE RICHARD SCH1 E F F EL] X. 

RECORD] NG SECRf I AR"V , 

SYDNEY HOWARD C A R X E Y , Jr., M . D 

TREASURER, 

CHARLES AUGUSTUS S 1 1 E R M A N . 

LIBRARIAN, 

ROBERT II E X D R E KELBY. 



OKK.IXAL ACT OF INCORPORATION 



A \ A ( ' T 

To incorporati the New-York Historical Society: Passed 
February 10th } /son. 

Wmi.i lb, the persons hereinafter named, and others, 
have formed themselves Into an association under the 
name of "The New-York Historical Society," for the 
purpose of discovering, procuring, and preserving what 
ever may relate to the natural, civil, literary, and eccle 
siastical history of the United States in general, and o\ 
this Stair in particular, and have presented a petition to 
the Legislature to be incorporated, thai thereby such, the 
purpose and design of the said Society, may be the more 
effectually subserved and promoted; 

Therefore, 

1. BE IT I N \' TED I'-V THE PEOPLE OF THE STAT] 0] 
Xiw Voi;k. REPRESENTED in Si nam. \\i. ASSEMBLY, That 

Egbert Benson, Brockholsl Livingston, Benjamin Moore, 
Samuel Miller, William Johnson, Samuel L Mitchill, Da 
vid Eosack, John M. Mason, DeWitl Clinton, John Mc 
Wesson, Antlh'tiy Bleecker, Charles Wilkes, John Pin 
tard, and John Forbes, and their associates, who now are, 
and such other persons as shall hereafter become mem- 
bers of the said Society, shall be, and are hereby ordained, 
constituted and declared a body corporate and politic, in 
fact and name, by the name of "The New-York Histori 



6 ORIGINAL CHARTER OF THE 

cal Society/ 3 and that by such name they and their suc- 
cessors forever hereafter shall and may have succession, 
and by the same name be capable in law to sue and be 
.sued, plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered 
unto, defend and be defended, hi all courts of law and 
equity, in all maimer of actions, suits, complaints, and 
matters whatsoever; and that they and their successors 
may have a common seal, and the same break, alter, 
change, and renew at their pleasure, and by the same shall 
be forever hereafter capable in the law to purchase, take, 
hold, receive, and enjoy, to them and their successors, 
any lands, tenements, hereditaments, goods, chattels or 
estate, real or personal, of whatever nature or quality in 
fee simple, for life or lives, or for years, or in any other 
manner whatsoever: Provided aliuays, that the yearly in- 
come or value of the said real or personal estate, do not 
at any time exceed the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, 
current money of the State of New-York. 

2. And it is hereby further enacted, That they and 
their successors by the same name, shall have power and 
authority to give, grant, bargain, sell, demise, release, and 
convey to others the whole or any part of such real or 
personal estate on such terms, and in such manner and 
form as the said Society may deem eligible to subserve 
and promote such, the purpose and design of the said 
Society, and that they and their successors shall have 
power, from time to time, to abolish any of the offices or 
appointments hereinafter mentioned, and create others 
in their room, with such powers and duties as they may 
think fit to confer and prescribe, and shall have power 
from time to time to make, constitute, ordain, and estab- 
lish such constitutions, by-laws, ordinances and regula- 
tions as they shall judge proper for the election of offi- 
cers, the election and admission of new members, for the 
government and regulation of the officers and members, 
for fixing the times and places of the meetings of the said 
corporation, and for conducting, regulating, and manag- 
ing all the affairs and business of the said corporation, 



NEW-YOBK HI8TOKICAL BOCH I 1 i 

;m<l the same from time t<» time t<. alter, change, repeal, 
revoke, and annul at their pleasure; and that the consti- 
tution and by-laws, rules and regulations of 1 1 * * - .-aid So- 
ciety heretofore made and adopted, and now existing, 
shall and may remain in force until altered or repealed 
by the Baid corporation: Provided, thai such by laws, con 
stitutions and regulations made <>r to be made by i 1m ■ said 
corporation shall m>t be repugnanl to the constitution and 
laws of the United States or of this State. 

•".. Ami i;i ii ii i; i in i; en \« 1 1 d, Thai the officers of the 
said Society, until otherwise ordained by the said corpora 
tion, shall consisl of one President, two Vice Presidents, 
a Correspondent Secretary, a Recording Secretary, a 
Treasurer, a Librarian, and standing Committee of seven 
members, and that until the nexl annual meeting <d' the 
said Society, and until others shall be chosen in their 
places, the present officers and committees last appointed 
by the Baid Society, shall be and continue respectively 
the officers <d' the said corporation. 

4. A.M> be n iiimiiii; i \ \< nil. Thai this acl -hull be 

and i- hereby declared t" he a public act, and -lull he ( 

-trued in-'.! favorably t<> subserve and promote such, the 
purpose and design of the -■.*]<] Society, and that no mis 
nomer of the Baid corporation, in any >\<->'<\. will, testa 

ment, gift, grant, demise, or other instrument <>t" itracl 

"I- conveyance, -lull vitiate or defeat the same, Provided 
the said corporation .-lull he sufficiently described i" show 
the intention of the part ies. 

.".. A.M. be m 1 1 i; i in i; i \ \« 1 1 i>. That this act shall be 
and remain in fidl force for the term of fifteen years: 
nded } nevertheless} thai in case the aforesaid Society 
shall at any time appropriate their, or any pari of their 
fund- t.i ;m\ purpose or purposes other than those con- 
templated by this act, ami .-lull he thereof convicted 1>\ 
due course "i' law, thai thenceforth the -aid corporation 
shall cease and determine, ami the estate, real and per 
Bonal, whereof it may he Beized ami possessed, -lull vesl 
in the people of this State. 



REVIVAL 



ACT OF INCORPORATION 



AN ACT 

For renewing and continuing in force an Act entitled "an 
Act to incorporate The Neiu-York Historical Society." 
Passed February 10, 1809. Passed February 10, 1826. 

1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW 

York, represented in Senate and Assembly, That the 
act entitled, " an Act to incorporate The New-York His- 
torical Society," passed February 10, 1809, shall be and 
the same is hereby revived and extended and continued 
in force until the tenth day of February, which will be in 
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and 
thirty-nine: And the said act shall be taken and consid- 
ered to have been in full force and effect, since the time 
of the passing thereof, in the same manner as if the same 
had not expired by its own limitation. 

2. And be it further enacted, That the officers last 
appointed by the said Society or Corporation, pursuant to 
the provisions of the said act shall be, and continue to be, 
officers of the said Corporation, till others shall be duly 
chosen in their respective places: And the estate and 
property which the said Society or Corporation may have 
legally acquired, or which they may legally hold, pur- 
suant to the said act, they may continue to hold, and may 
convey and dispose of the same, in the same manner as 
if I ho said act had always continued in full force and 
effect. 



Kl.\ l\ LL AND AMENDMENT 



ACT () V 1 N COB 1M) It AT I O N 



A .\ At I 

To revivt and continue in force an Act entitled, "an Act to 
incorporate th* New-York Historical Society" Passed 
February tO, 1809, and to amend tin same. Passed 
February .', is' t r,. By a two-third vote. 

The People of im State of Nr\\ STork, represented 
in Senate and Assembly, do enact is follows: 

1. The Act entitled, "an A«-t to incorporate the New- 
York Historical Society," Passed February 10th, L809, is 
hereby revived and continued in force. 

2. The said acl bo revived and continued in force, is 
hereby amended by striking out at the end of the first 
section thereof the words, "Provided always thai the 
yearly income, or value of the said real <>r personal es 
tate, do not at any time exceed the sum of fifteen hun- 
dred dollars, currenl money of the State of New York;" 
and inserting in the place thereof the words: '* bul the 
clear yearly income of the said real and personal estate, 
over and above the Library and collections of the said 
Society, shall not at any time exceed the sum of ten thou- 
sand dollars." 

3. The said revived act is hereby further amended, by 
striking out in the fifth line of the third section thereof 
the words, "A Correspondent Secretary," and inserting 



10 REVIVAL AND AMENDMENT- 

in the place thereof the words, " a foreign corresponding 
secretary, and domestic corresponding secretary." 

I. The said revived ad is hereby further amended, by 
striking out in the first part of the fifth section thereof the 
words, " That this act shall be and remain in full force for 
the term of fifteen years: provided nevertheless." 

5. The Legislature may at any time alter or repeal this 
act. 

6. This act shall take effect immediately. 



TIIK CIIAKTKK. 



The ( 'luir/i /• -;/' Th Neto- York Histoi ical Socii ty, as n vived, 
continued in forct and amended, February 2d, is',t;. 

Whereas the persona hereinafter named, and others, 
have formed themselves into an Association under the 
nam.' of "The New-York Historical Society," for the 
purpose of discovering, procuring, and preserving what- 
ever may relate to the natural, civil, literary, and eccle- 
siastical history of the United States in general, and oi 
this State in particular, and have presented a petition to 
the Legislature to be incorporated, that thereby Buch, the 
purpose and design of the -aid Society, may be the more 
effectually subserved and promoted; 

Therefore, 

J> I. Be it ink mi> Bl tin: PEOPLE OF THE Si\ii -I 
New Yokk. represented i\ mm Senate lnd Aesi mbly, 
That Egbert Benson, Brockholsl Livingston, Benjamin 
Moore, Samuel Mill.!-. William Johnson, Samuel L. 
Mitcl.il], David Hosack, John M. Mason, DeWitl Clin- 
ton, John McKesson, Anthony Bleecker, Charles Wilkes, 
John Pintard, and John Forbes, and their associates, who 
now are. and such other persons :i- -hall hereafter become 
members of the said Society, -hall 1>«', and are hereby or 
dained, constituted, and declared a body corporate ami 
politic, in fact and name, by the name of " The Now 
York Historical Society," and that by such name they 
ami their successors forever hereafter .-hall and may have 
succession, and by the same name ho capable in law to sue 
and he sued, plead and ho impleaded, answer and ho an- 
Bwered unto, defend and ho defended, in all court- of law 
and equity, in all manner of actions, -nit-, complaints, ami 
matters whatsoever; ami thai they ami their succee 



12 CHARTEK OF THE 

may have a common seal, and the same break, alter. 
change, and renew at their pleasure, and by the same be 
forever hereafter capable in the law to purchase, take, 
hold, receive, and enjoy, to them and their successors, 
any land-, tenements, hereditaments, goods, chattels or 
estate, real and personal, of whatever nature or quality, in 
fee simple, for life or lives, or for years, or in any other, 
manner whatsoever; but the clear yearly income of the 
said real and personal estate, over and above the Library 
and collections of the said Society, shall not at any time 
exceed the sum of ten thousand dollars. 

§ II. And it is hereby further enacted, That they 
and their successors, by the same name, shall have power 
and authority to give, grant, bargain, sell, demise, release, 
and convey to others, the whole or any part of such real or 
personal estate, on such terms, and in such manner and 
form as the said Society may deem eligible to subserve 
and promote such, the purpose and design of the said So- 
ciety; and that they and their successors shall have pow- 
er, from time to time, to abolish any of the offices or ap- 
pointments hereinafter mentioned, and create others in 
their room, with such powers and duties as they may 
think fit to confer and prescribe, and shall have power 
from time to time to make, constitute, ordain and estab- 
lish such constitutions, by-laws, ordinances, and regula- 
tions as they shall judge proper for the election of offi- 
cers, the election and admission of new members, for the 
government and regulation of the officers and members, 
for fixing the times and places of the meetings of the said 
corporation, and for conducting, regulating, and manag- 
ing all the affairs and business of the said corporation; 
and the same from time to time to alter, change, repeal, 
revoke, and annul at their pleasure; and that the consti- 
tution and by-laws, rules and regulations of the said So- 
ciety heretofore made and adopted, and now existing, 
shall and may remain in force until altered or repealed 
by the said corporation : provided that such by-laws, con- 
stitutions and regulations, made or to be made by the said 



\ 



NEW-YORK FHSTOBIi \l, BO( IIT1. 13 

corporation, shall no1 be repugnanl to the constitution 
and laws of the United States, or of this State. 

§ L 1 1 . Ami be ii iikiiim; enacted, that the "lli< 
of the said Society, until otherwise ordained by the Baid 
corporation, shall consisl of one President, two Vice- 
Presidents, a Foreign Corresponding Secretary, a Do 
mestic Corresponding Secretary, a Recording Secretary, 
a Treasurer, a Librarian, and standing Committee of 
seven members; and thai until the next annual meeting 
of the said Society, and until others shall 1"' chosen in 
their places, the presenl officers and committees last ap- 
pointed by the said Society shall be and continue reaped 
ively tlic officers of the said corporation. 

§ IV. Ami be ii ii Kim i; enacted, thai this ad shall 
be and is hereby declared to be a public act, and shall be 
construed most favorably to subserve and promote such, 
the purpose and design of the said Society, and thai no 
misnomer of the said corporation, in any deed, will, 
tament, gift, grant, demise, or other instrument of con 
tract or conveyance, shall vitiate or defeal the same: pro- 
vide. 1 the -aid corporation shall be sufficiently described 
to show the intention of the parties. 

vj A". And be it ftjetheb enacted, that in case the 
aforesaid Society shall at any time appropriate their, or 
any part of their funds to any purpose or purposes, other 
than those contemplated by this act, and shall be thereof 
convicted by duo course of law, that thenceforth tho said 
corporation shall cease and determine, and the estate, 
peal and personal, whereof it may be seized and possessed, 
shall vest in the people of this State. 

£ VT. Tho Legislature may al any time alter or repeal 
this act. 

§ Vll. This ad shall take effecl immediately. 



ACT OF EXEMPTION. 



An Act to exempt the Library edifice and site of The New- 
York Historical Society from sale under execution. 
Passed April 12, 1856. ' 

The People of the State of New-York, represented 
in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows : 

§ 1. In case " The New-York Historical Society," in 
the City of New York, shall by voluntary contributions of 
its members and others, raise sufficient money for the 
purchase of a site in the City of New-York, and the erec- 
tion thereon of a suitable fire-proof building for the re- 
ception and preservation of the library and collections, 
and for the general uses of said Society, and shall appro- 
priate said moneys f"T such purpose, then such site and 
i lie building which may be erected thereon, shall be ex- 
empt from sale on execution for debts hereafter contract- 
ed by said Society, so long as such site shall be used by 
such Society; but such exemption shall not extend to any 
debt contracted for the erection of such building. 

§ 2. The said New-York Historical Society shall not 
encumber said property by mortgage or otherwise. 

>; 3. To entitle any property to the exemption speci- 
fied in this Aet, the said Society shall execute a declara- 
tion of the uses of said property, with a particular de- 
scription of the same, which shall be recorded in the office 
of the register of the City and County of New York; but 



81 I II I.MIA I \l. \. I 01 I.MMII [ON. 16 

no property shall, by virtue of tins act, be exempl from 
Bale for Don-payment of taxes and i nts, or for 

debl contracted for the purchase thereof, or prior t<> the 
recording of the aforesaid declaration. 

§ 1. This act shall take effect immediately. 



SUPPLEMENTAL ACT OF EXEMPTION 



An Act Suppleiziental to Chapter 187 of the Laws of 1 
, ntitled "An Actio < >< mpt tin Library edifice "n</ si/, 
oj The New-York Historical Society, from salt under 
ution." Laws of New York, 1889, Chap. '/«!',. 

Approved by the Governor, June 1">. i vv '.'. Passed, 
three fifths hcinjr present. 

The People of the State of New ?ork, rj pri si mi d 
in Senate and Assembly, do enact \s follows: 

§ 1. Tn case "The New- York Eistorical Society," in 
the City of New-York, shall, by voluntary contributions 
of its members and others, raise sufficienl money for the 
purchase of a larger and more eligible Bite in the City oi 
New York, and t'<>r the erection thereon of a more com 
inodiou- and extensive fire proof building for the recep 
tion and preservation of its library and collections, and 
for the genera] uses of said Society, and shall appropriate 
such money for said purposes, and shall execute a dec- 
laration of the uses of said properly with a particular 
description of the same, and shall cause the said declara- 
tion to be recorded in the office of the register of the City 
and County of New-York, it is hereby authorized to sell 
and convey by deed executed and acknowledged by its 
President and Secretary, the real estate and building now- 
held by it. and which were exempted from sale on exe- 
cution by Chapter 1ST of the Laws of 1856, entitled " An 



16 SUPPLEMENTAL ACT OF EXEMPTION. 

Art t<» exempt the Library edifice and site of The New- 
York Historical Society from sale under execution"; 
and thereupon such new site and the building which may 
be erected thereon shall be exempt from sale on execu- 
tion for debts hereafter contracted by said Society, so 
long as such site shall be used by such Society, but such 
exemption shall not extend to any debt contracted for the 
erection of such building. 

§ 2. The said Society is hereby authorized to hold 
such real and personal estate as may be necessary for the 
purposes of its incorporation, and such historical, literary, 
art and archaeological collections as it may acquire; but 
the yearly income of the said real and personal estate, 
over and above the sum which may be devoted to the in- 
crease and preservation of its library and collections, 
-hall not at any time exceed the sum of one hundred thou- 
sand dollars. 

§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately. 



B V- LAW S. 

\ wii:. 
T. The name of this Society i-, "Tin. New York lh- 
tobioal Society." 

object. 

II. The object "I (lie Society is l" discover, procure, 
and preserve whatever may relate i" ill'' natural, civil, 
literary, and ecclesiastical history <>l the United States 
in general, and of the State of New York in particular. 
Also to establish and maintain collections in art and ar 
cha?ology. 

MEMBERS. 

III. The Society shall consisl of Members and Hob 

orary Members. No1 re than four Honorary Mini 

bers shall !>»■ elected in any one year. Members only 
shall I'f entitled t" vote or hold office in the Society. 

ELECTION OF MEMBERS. 

IV. Members shall be elected as follows: The candi- 
dates shall be proposed publicly al a meeting of the So 

ciety by a member thereof; and the nominations, top-til 

er with the name of the member making them, shall be 
entered on the minutes, and be referred to the Kxeeutive 
Committee. The Reports of that Committee recom 
mending candidates far election shall be openly read to 
the Society at a meeting subsequenl to thai at which the 
nominations were made; and if any member demand a 
ballot, the election shall be by ballot, and three Mack balls 
shall exclude. It' uo ballol be demanded, the candidates, 
so recommended, shall be declared duly elected members 
of the Society. 

I l ES Wl' Dl l 3. 

V. Each Member shall on admission pay an initiation 
fee of Twenty Dollars, which shall be considered to in- 
clude his annual dues for the current year; and annually 
thereafter Ten Dollars as dues, payable in advance on the 



18 BY-LAWS. 

first day of January. Any Member may commute for 
life all fees and dues by the payment at any one time of 
the sum of One Hundred Dollars. Should any Member, 
other than a life member, fail to pay the said fees and 
dues for two years successively, or at any time refuse to 
pay the same, the Executive Committee shall erase his 
name from the list of members, and he shall no longer 
be a Member of the Society. 

OFFICERS. 

VI. The Officers of the Society are — a President, a 
First Vice-President, a Second Vice-President, a Foreign 
Corresponding Secretary, a Domestic Corresponding Sec- 
retary, a liecording Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Li- 
brarian. 

They shall be elected annually by ballot, and shall hold 
their offices respectively for one year, and until others 
shall be chosen in their places. 

NOMINATING COMMITTEE. 

VII. Seven persons on the list of Members of the So- 
ciety, not holding office at the time, shall be chosen by 
ballot by the Executive Committee at its stated meeting 
in each November, who shall be reported to the Society at 
each December meeting, and when approved by a vote by 
ballot of the Society shall constitute a committee to be 
known as the " Nominating Committee." Such Nomi- 
nating Committee shall report in writing the names of 
Members <>f the Society, suitable to be elected officers at 
the annual meeting, fifteen days before such annual meet- 
ing, by posting such names publicly in the Library of the 
Society; and they shall cause to be prepared for the an- 
nual meeting ballots containing the names and the office 
for which each is thus recommended. No ticket for offi- 
cers shall be voted on which lias not been openly posted 
in the Library of the Society at leasl ten days before the 
annual meeting. 

In case more than one ballot for a Nominating Com 
mittee be required to effect a choice, the same shall be 
taken immediately without discussion. 



BY-LAWS. 19 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 

YIII. The President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, 
and Librarian, together with twelve otheT members to I"' 
appointed by the President, and of whom one fourth shall 
be appointed every year, shall constitute a standing Com 
in it tee to be called "The Executive Committee." 

\\M \l, MEETING. 

JX. The Society shall bold an annual meeting on the 
firs! Tuesday of January in each and every year hereafter, 
at which a general election of officers by ballol shall take 
place. In such election, a majority of the ballots given 
for any officer shall constitute a choice; bul if, on the firsl 
ballot, no person shall receive such majority, then ;i fur 
ther balloting shall take place, in which a plurality of 
rotes given for any officer shall determine the choice. 

Whenever the firsl Tuesday of January .-hall be the 
first day of January, the annual meeting above provided 
for shall be hold on the Wednesday next following. 

\ vr wrn.s. 

X. If a vacancy shall happen iu any of the offices of 
i he Society, it may he filled by special election at a stated 
meeting of the Society; and the person so elected to fill a 
vacancy shall hold hi- office for the unexpired term of 
his immediate predecessor in office, and until smother 
shall he elected in his place. Vacancies in Committees 
shall he filled immediately on their occurrence, and in 
the manner of the original appointmenl of the ( 'oinniit 
tee. 

STATED AND SPECIAL MEETINGS. 

XI. The Society shall meet statedly tor the transaction 
of business at its Building, on the firsl Tuesday in ever} 
month, unless otherwise specially ordered. But the Pres 
ident, or, in his absence, either of the Vice Presidents, 
may, and upon the written requesl of any five members, 

shall call a special meeting, giving three days' notice 
thereof, to be published in at Least two public newspapers, 
printed in the City of New York. 



20 BY-LAWS. 

Whenever the first Tuesday of any month shall be a 
legal holiday, the meeting herein provided for shall be 
held on the Wednesday next, following. 

ORDER OF BUSINESS. 

XII. At the stated meetings of the Society the follow- 
ing shall be the order of business: 

1. The reading of the minutes of the last meeting. 

2. Reports and communications from officers of the 
S< >eiety. 

3. Reports of the Executive and other standing Com- 
mittees. 

4. Reports of special Committees. 

5. Election of members previously proposed. 

6. Nomination of new members. • 

7. Papers read, and addresses delivered, before the So- 
ciety. 

8. Miscellaneous business. 

ANNIVERSARY. 

XIII. The third Tuesday of November in each year, 
being the anniversary of the founding of the Society, the 
Executive Committee may direct a proper observance of 
the same. 

QUORUM. 

XIV. At all meetings of the Society, fifteen members 
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. 

PRESIDING OFFICER. 

XV. The President, or, in his absence, one of the Vice- 
Presidents, or, in their absence, a Chairman pro tempore, 
shall preside at all meetings of the Society, and shall have 
a casting vote. He shall preserve order, and shall decide 1 
all questions of order, subject to an appeal to the Society. 
He shall also appoint all Committees authorized by I lie 
Society, unless otherwise specially ordered. 

CORRESPONDING SECRETARIES. 

XVI. The Corresponding Secretaries shall conduct the 
general correspondence of the Society. They shall, at 
every meeting <>f the Society, report such letters and com- 



BY I ItWS. 'Jl 

munications as they maj have received; thej Bhall pre 
pare al] letters to be written in connection with the busi- 
ness or objects of the Society, and transmil the same; bul 
the Society may appoin.1 a Committee to prepare a lettei 
or letters, on any special occasion. They shall notify all 
members of their election, and of Buch other matters as 
they shall be directed by the Society; and shall transmit 
to them their proper diplomas, or certificates of member- 
ship. They shall keep, in suitable books to be provided 
for that purpose, true copies of all letters written <>n be- 
half of the Society; and shall carefully preserve said cop- 
ies and the originals of all letters and communications re 
ceived, and shall deposil the same in the Library. 

The duties of the Foreign Corresponding Secretary 
shall he limited to the correspondence with individuals 
or associate bodies in foreign countries; and those of the 
Domestic Corresponding Secretary shall, in like manner, 
be confined to the United States, except that, in the ab- 
sence of either of these officers, or during a vacancy in 
either office, its duties shall be performed by the remain- 
ing incumbent, until such absence shall terminate, or the 
vacancy be supplied. 

RECORDING SECRETAKY. 

XVII. The Recording Secretary shall have the charge 
of the Seal, Charter, By-Laws, and Records of the S 

etv. lie. together with the presiding officer, shall certify 
all acts of the Society, lie -hall, under the direction of 
the President, or either of the Vice Presidents, give due 
notice of the time and place "I' all meetings of the So 
ciety, and attend the same, lie shall keep fair and accu- 
rate records of all the proceedings and orders of the So- 
ciety; and shall give notice t" the several officers, and to 
the Executive and other Committees, <-t' all votes, orders, 
resolves, and proceedings of the Society, affecting them 
or appertaining to their respective duties. 

TREASURER. 

XVIII. The Treasurer shall collect and keep the filml- 
and securities of the Society; and so often as these funds 



22 BY-LAWS. 

shall amount to one hundred dollars, they shall be de- 
posited in some Bank in this City to the credit of " The 
New- York Historical Society," and shall be drawn thence 
on the cheek of the Treasurer, for the purposes of the So- 
ciety only. Out of these funds, he shall pay such sums 
only as may be ordered by the Society or by the Execu- 
tive Committee. He shall keep a true account of his re- 
ceipts and payments; and, at each annual meeting, render 
the same to the Society, when a Committee shall be ap- 
pointed to audit his accounts. 

X I X. If from the annual report of the Treasurer there 
shall appear to be a balance against the Treasury, no 
appropriation of money shall be made for any object but 
the necessary current expenses of the Society, until such 
balance shall be paid. 

LIBRARIAN. 

X X. The Librarian, in connection with the Executive 
Committee, shall have the charge and superintendence 
of the Library, and the care and arrangement of the 
books, manuscripts, and other articles belonging to the 
Society. He shall cause to be prepared and kept, a 
proper catalogue and list of the same. He shall acknowl- 
edge the receipt of donations to the Society in his de- 
partment. He shall expend in the purchase of books and 
other articles, and for their safe keeping and preserva 
ii<>n, with (he approbation of the Executive Committee, 
such sums of money as shall from time to time be ap- 
propriated for that purpose, and render vouchers for the 
same to the Executive Committee. He shall make to 
the Society, at each annual meeting, a full report on the 
condition and progress of the Library and collections. 
He shall have power to employ, at a salary to be fixed 
by the Executive Committee, an Assistant Librarian, who 
shall be under his direction, and perform such duties as 
he may assign; and who, during the hours at which the 
Library is open, shall be always present. 



BY-LAW& 23 

L1I5J; \l:v REG! CATIONS. 

XXL The following shall be the regulation.-, for the 
use of the Library: 

1. No bonk or manuscript shall at any Lime be lenl 

to any person to be removed from the Library. 

2. No Manuscript in the library, nor any paper read 

before the Society and deposited in its archives, 
shall be published, except by the direction of the 
Society, or with the consenl of the Executive 
( 'oininittee. 
-'!. The hours during which the Library shall be open 
shall be determined, from time to time, by the 
Executive < lommittee. 

4. During such hours, any member of the Society may 

have free access to consult any \><><>k or manu 
script, except such as may be designated by the 
Executive Committee, and to make extracts from 
the same under the authority of the Librarian. 
Any person, not a member, may obtain I lie like 
privilege of consultation from the President or 
Librarian, if known to them, or upon the recom- 
mendation of some other member, to whom the 
applicant is known. But no person,' not a mem- 
ber, shall be permitted to make extracts from the 
manuscripts of the Society, excepting the donors 
or depositors of the same, without special au- 
thority from the Executive Committee. 

5. It shall be the duty of the Librarian, or his Assist- 

ant, to report to the Executive Committee any 
injury done to any book or manuscript by any 
person consulting the same; :m*l the said Com- 
mittee may, at their discretion, lay such reports 
before the Society. For any such injury, the 
person cooing it shall make such pecuniary com- 
pensation as the said Committee shall judge 
proper; and if he be not a member, the Commit 
tee shall have power to prohibit him from fur- 
ther access to the Library. 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 

XXII. It shall be the duty of the Executive Commit- 
tee to solicit and receive donations for the Society; to 
recommend plans for promoting its objects; to digest and 



24 BY-LAWS. 

prepare business; to authorize the disbursement and ex- 
penditure of unappropriated moneys in the Treasury, for 
the payment of salaries, current expenses, fitting up the 
Library, the ordinary purchase of books, binding, print- 
ing, and other necessary outlays. They shall have power 
to employ such persons as may be necessary for the proper 
administration of the affairs of the Society; and to pre- 
scribe their duties, and fix their salaries. They shall, in 
connection with the Librarian, have charge of the ar- 
rangement and regulation of the Library and collections; 
and shall have authority at any time to examine into the 
condition of the same, and into the state of the finances; 
as also generally to superintend the interests of the So- 
ciety, and execute all such duties as may from time to 
time be committed to them by the Society. At each an- 
nual meeting of the Society, they shall make a general re- 
port. Except during the summer vacation of the Society, 
they shall meet statedly for the transaction of business, 
once at least, in every month; and if any member of the 
Committee, not an officer of the Society, shall be absent 
from its meetings for three successive months, without 
reasons therefor satisfactory to the Committee, his place 
on the Committee shall be vacated, which fact shall be 
reported by the Committee to the Society. 

At all meetings of the Executive Committee, five mem- 
bers shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of busi- 
ness. 

NUMBEE OF MEMBEES ON COMMITTEES. 

XXIII. All Committees of the Society, other than the 
Executive Committee and Nominating Committee, shall 
be composed of three members, unless otherwise specially 
ordered. 

ALTEEATION OF BY-LAWS. 

XXIV. No alteration in the By-Laws of the Society 
shall be made, unless such alteration shall have been open- 
ly proposed at a previous meeting, and entered on the 
minutes, with the name of the member proposing the 
same; and shall be adopted by a majority of the mem- 
bers present at a stated meeting of the Society. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



014 113 884 4 • 



